PBS-TV to Present AN EVENING WITH BERRY GORDY

[skooldem1]

http://tv.broadwayworld.com/article/PBS-TV-to-Present-AN-EVENING-WITH-BERRY-GORDY-20121109

[Roberta75]

http://tv.broadwayworld.com/article/PBS-TV-to-Present-AN-EVENING-WITH-BERRY-GORDY-20121109

Mr. Gordy deserves all the good things that are happening to him.

God bless Mr. Berry Gordy.

Roberta

[reese]

The HistoryMakers have done some very good programs over the years. Unfortunately, my local PBS affiliate doesn't consistently air them. I hope they broadcast this one.

[jobeterob]

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PBS-TV Celebrity Interview & Fundraiser
An Evening With Berry Gordy
Date:
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Executive Producer:
Julieanna L. Richardson
Co-Producer:
Charles Randolph-Wright
Suzanne de Passe
Music Producer:
Ray Chew


Event Information
An Evening With Berry Gordy will take place on Saturday, November 17, 2012 at The Art Institute of Chicago. This one-on-one interview, hosted by PBS-TV journalist Gwen Ifill, will follow Berry Gordy's journey through Motown and beyond. The evening will also feature performances by special guests in tribute to the music mogul. Tickets are $1000.00 each and RSVPs are required. Tickets must be purchased in advance and cannot be purchased at the door.

Valet parking will be available for a nominal fee on the Columbus Drive entrance of The Art Institute. To sponsor this event, click here.

Honoree


Berry Gordy



Berry Gordy founded and presided over the musical empire known as Motown. As a young black man working in often inhospitable times, Gordy endeavored to reach across the racial divide with music that could touch all people, regardless of the color of their skin. Under his tutelage, Motown became a model of black capitalism, pride and self-expression and a repository for some of the greatest talent ever assembled at one company. The list of artists who were discovered and thrived at Motown includes the Supremes, Jr. Walker & the All-Stars, the Temptations, the Four Tops, the Miracles, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, the Jackson 5, and Martha and the Vandellas. But the artists alone were not the whole story by any means. Motown’s staff songwriting and production teams [[e.g., Holland-Dozier-Holland) and in-house musicians [[including such unsung heroes as bandleader/keyboardist Earl Van Dyke and bassist James Jamerson) contributed immeasurably to the Motown sound. The idea of a self-contained operation exuding soul from its every pore was all part of Gordy’s grand design. The rags-to-riches story began in Detroit’s inner city where Gordy, born in 1929 as the son of a plastering contractor, dreamed of making his mark on the world. Stints in the army and as a boxer and record-store manager preceded his entree into the creative and entrepreneurial side of the music business. In the mid-Fifties, Gordy began writing songs for local R&B acts and quickly acquired a local reputation as a songwriter, producer and hustler. His first break came in 1957, when Brunswick Records bought a song of his called “"Reet Petite"” for Jackie Wilson. In 1959, Gordy ventured into independent production with singer Marv Johnson, enjoying a few modest hits such as “"Come to Me."” In 1960, Gordy leased another hit single – “"Money,"” by Barrett Strong – to Anna Records, a label owned by his sister. Then he decided to launch his own company: Tammie Records, which was changed to Tamla and eventually joined by the Gordy, Soul and Motown imprints. All of these labels were overseen from a Detroit house at 2648 West Grand Boulevard that Gordy dubbed “"Hitsville U.S.A."” The first hit of any size for the fledgling company belonged to the Miracles, a vocal group led by Smokey Robinson. “"Way Over There,"” released on Tamla in 1960, sold a respectable 60,000 copies. It’s followup, “"Shop Around,"” reached Number Two on the pop charts and launched Motown into the national market. Overseeing the whole operation from its founding in 1959 to its sale in 1988 was Berry, who insured that Motown’s stable of singers, songwriters, producers and musicians took the concept of simple, catchy pop songs to a whole new level of sophistication and, thanks to the music’s roots in gospel and blues, visceral intensity. At Motown, notions of “formula” were transformed into works of art in the hands of singers like Marvin Gaye, Mary Wells, Smokey Robinson, Levi Stubbs [[of the Four Tops), David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks [[of the Temptations), Diana Ross, Martha Reeves and Stevie Wonder.



Interviewer
Gwen Ifill
Gwen Ifill is moderator and managing editor of Washington Week and a senior correspondent for The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. She is also the best-selling author of The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama. Ms. Ifill reports on a wide range of issues including both foreign affairs and U.S. politics and policies. She has covered six presidential campaigns and moderated two vice presidential debates -- the 2004 debate between Republican Dick Cheney and Democrat John Edwards and the 2008 debate between Democratic Senator Joe Biden and Republican Governor Sarah Palin. Ifill joined both Washington Week and The NewsHour in 1999, interviewing newsmakers and reporting on issues ranging from foreign affairs to politics. In doing so, Ifill became the first African American woman to host a prominent political talk show. Before moving to PBS, Ifill spent five years at NBC News as chief congressional and political correspondent and still appears on Meet the Press. Ifill has also had a successful career as a newspaper reporter. Prior to her 1994 move to NBC, Ifill worked at The New York Times where she covered the White House and politics. She also covered national and local affairs for The Washington Post, Baltimore Evening Sun, and the Boston Herald American. “I always knew I wanted to be a journalist, and my first love was newspapers,” Ifill said. “But public broadcasting provides the best of both worlds—combining the depth of newspapering with the immediate impact of broadcast television.” Ifill has received more than a dozen honorary doctorates and is the recipient of several broadcasting excellence awards including honors from the National Press Foundation, Ebony Magazine, the Radio Television News Directors Association, and American Women in Radio and Television. A native of New York City and graduate of Simmons College in Boston, Ifill serves on the board of the Committee to Protect Journalists, the Harvard University Institute of Politics, and the News Literacy Project. Ifill also interviewed Diahann Carroll, Quincy Jones, Eartha Kitt, and Smokey Robinson for The HistoryMakers’ popular annual PBS-TV series An Evening With…



Chairs and Committees


Honorary Co-Chairs

Michelle Boone

Christie Hefner

Richard Parsons

Suzanne de Passe

LMFAO

Walter and Shirley Massey

Lucian Grainge

Steven McKeever









Event Co-Chairs

Clarence Avant

Michele Coleman Mayes

Kelly McNamara Corley

Carol H. Williams

Benefit Committee

James Andrews

Brenda Gaines

Cheryl Mayberry McKissack

Katéy Assem

Denise & Gary Gardner

Sharon Morrow

Larry Bailey & Loleta Thomas Bailey

Karen & Kerry Gordy

Joel & Wanda Pelz

Al Bell

Deborah Gray-Young

Al & Cheri Reid

Alonzo Byrd

Ethiopia Habtemariam

Helen Hammond Redding

Ricki Fairley Brown

Carmen & Courtney Hollowell

Chanda Rice

Toni Cook Bush & Dwight Bush

Patricia Brown Holmes

Dee Robinson Reid

Vivian Scott Chew

Janice Hutchinson

Michele Rogers

Almeta Cooper

Thomas Leavens

Brenda Russell

Risa Davis

Connie Lindsey

Tim Russell

David Day

Sandy Matthews

Carol Sagers

Timothy Francis

Kimberly McCullough

[jobeterob]

Sponsorship Levels
$100,000 HISTORYMAKER
Category exclusivity
Event co-chairmanship for sponsor executive
Primary positioning as the title sponsor in our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special that airs in millions of PBS-TV households
30 reserved tickets to our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
Two full page ads in the program book for our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special [[including front or back inside cover)
Live mention from stage at our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
Website banner advertising and linkage for one month before and after the event
Prominent logo placement on all printed event materials
$50,000 STARMAKER
Secondary positioning as sponsor in our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special that will air in millions of PBS-TV households
16 reserved tickets our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
One full page ad in the program book for our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
Live mention from stage at our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
Website banner advertising and linkage for one month before and after the event
Secondary logo placement on all printed event materials
$25,000 DREAMMAKER
10 reserved tickets to our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
Sponsorship mention and logo display in credits of our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
One full page ad in the program book for our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
Live mention from stage at our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
Website banner advertising and linkage for one month before and after the event
Logo placement on all printed event materials
$10,000 WISHMAKER
4 reserved tickets to our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
One half-page ad in program book for our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
Listing in the program book for our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
Listing in the credits of 60:00 our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
$5,000 GIFTMAKER
2 reserved tickets to our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
Listing in the program book for our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
Listing in the credits of our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
$2,500 SPONSORAHISTORYMAKER
2 reserved tickets to our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
Listing in the program book for our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
$1,000 PURCHASETICKET
PURCHASE A TICKET FOR AN EVENING WITH BERRY GORDY HERE!

[REDHOT]

I'm looking forward to this interview
Please stay positive

[milven]

Will this interview be live or edited? A few years ago, he was interviewed by Tavis Smiley on Tavis' program. It had to be in two parts because Berry rambled on and gave long responses to questions - and, sometimes the responses didn't even anwser Tavis' question. I hope this time it will be more informative. Looking forward to it in any case.

[franjoy56]

I hope all of his subjects [[artists) are shown in a positive light, if they are mentioned: Flo Ballard, Mary Wells, Gladys Horton..

[kenneth]

This must be the program which will have the TJ Lubinsky CD set tie-in, don't you think?

[calvin]

Yes, when will this be broadcast? The article in the link above says that it will be "taped live" on Saturday, 17 November. In another thread, it was announced that the TJ Lubinsky CD set will first be offered on Saturday, 24 November, at 9 pm. TJL also announced in another thread [["Meeting Smokey") a program called "Doo Wop Discoveries" which will be shown at 7 pm on Saturday, 24 November. So perhaps the "Evening with Berry Gordy, Jr" will follow Doo Wop Discoveries?

[calvin]

This must be the program which will have the TJ Lubinsky CD set tie-in, don't you think?

I just checked the local listings for the PBS station in Detroit, WTVS, for Saturday, 24 November [[the date tjl said the cd set will first be available). They list:

9-11 pm
Doo Wop Discoveries
The doo-wop music of the late 1950s and early '60s is recalled with help from Smokey Robinson; Mike Stoller [[of Lieber & Stoller); Mitch and Phil Margo of the Tokens; Aaron Neville; and Neil Sedaka.

11pm - 1 am
Motown: Big Hits & More
A compilation of classic performances by Motown recording artists, including Marvin Gaye, Martha and the Vandellas, the Temptations, Four Tops, Supremes and Miracles.

[smark21]

I suspect this Berry Gordy tribute show will be aired around the time Motown the Musical has its opening. Makes sense from a promotion standpoint as there should be a lot of publicity surrounding the event, especially in NYC.

[tjl]

No connection between these two shows - not sure about the other one. Ours [[a best-of past Motown My Music PBS OFFERINGS IS ON THE 24TH at 9pm - that's the one with the new cd set).

Hope this helps.

[kenneth]

No connection between these two shows - not sure about the other one. Ours [[a best-of past Motown My Music PBS OFFERINGS IS ON THE 24TH at 9pm - that's the one with the new cd set).

Hope this helps.

Great, thanks for letting us know. I'm anxious to see it.

[woodward]

Yes, when will this be broadcast? The article in the link above says that it will be "taped live" on Saturday, 17 November. In another thread, it was announced that the TJ Lubinsky CD set will first be offered on Saturday, 24 November, at 9 pm. TJL also announced in another thread [["Meeting Smokey") a program called "Doo Wop Discoveries" which will be shown at 7 pm on Saturday, 24 November. So perhaps the "Evening with Berry Gordy, Jr" will follow Doo Wop Discoveries?
UPDATE: I called the History Makers number in Chicago and was told that it will not be broadcast on PBS until February. FYI.

[Kamasu_Jr]

UPDATE: I called the History Makers number in Chicago and was told that it will not be broadcast on PBS until February. FYI.

I was wondering about that because I didn't see it on my PBS schedule for the Monday after the Tnanksgiving holiday. I do see the Doo Wop and Motown shows by TJL are airing this weekend in Memphis.

[jobeterob]

Voices of N'DIGO
AboutArchivesAn Evening with Barry Gordy at History Makers
By Hermene Hartman, today at 10:00 am It was a historic evening with Barry Gordy at The Art Institute for the History Makers affair, Saturday, November 17. Barry Gordy, the musical icon was on stage being interviewed about his luxurious career by award winning journalist Gwen Ifill. Gordy the creator of Motown revealed that he was the accomplished song writer in adddition to being a superb businessman. The evening was beautiful as his story unfolded. Julieanna Richardson the founder and executive director of History Maker tried for twelve years to capture the Gordy glory . The interview will be shown on a PBS station in 2013.

He played the piano, showcasing his first composition. Tributes were given on tape and on stage by his friends to include Smokey Robinson, and Quincy Jones. On stage in person were Suzanne dePasse, Rev. Jesse Jackson and Clarence Avant. They all told of the genius of Barry and his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement.

The stars came out. The originals, the pioneers the creators of the Motown Sound were on hand to include, Claudette Robinson, Freda and Sherrie Payne, The Velvelettes and Barry;s son Stefan Gordy. The new motowners were there too - Kem and Janelle Monae.

The audience was treated to a glimpse into the upcoming Broadway play, Motown the Musical, scheduled to open April 2013 with lead roles being played by Valisia Lekae as Diana Ross and Brandon Victor Dixon as Berry Gordy.

Barry Gordy is a legend in his own time, making beautiful music with the likes of Smokey Robinson and The Miracles The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five, Marvin Gaye and countless others. During the interview he told how he formed an entertainment assembly line just like at the car factories, where everyone had clear defined roles on the production line. In addition to the music Gordy created auxuliary professions , from fashion designers to newspapers.

Beautiful evening, Miss Ross was missing. It was the best history makers

[jobeterob]

5634

Berry at the Piano

[jobeterob]

5635

Berry and the New Diana

[jobeterob]

5636

Suzanne

[jobeterob]

5637

More pictures.

[jobeterob]

5638

Valerie Sings.

[smark21]

My Rage, I mean Mirage, won’t be happy about this.

[midnightman]

Cool photos of Gordy and company...

[jobeterob]

Berry looks very good for a man who's got to be 83. Gonna follow in his dad's footsteps.

[midnightman]

^ It's amazing to be honest... 83 and he still look like he's 63...lol I think he turns 83 on the 28th.

[mirage]

Sponsorship Levels
$100,000 HISTORYMAKER
Category exclusivity
Event co-chairmanship for sponsor executive
Primary positioning as the title sponsor in our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special that airs in millions of PBS-TV households
30 reserved tickets to our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
Two full page ads in the program book for our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special [[including front or back inside cover)
Live mention from stage at our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
Website banner advertising and linkage for one month before and after the event
Prominent logo placement on all printed event materials
$50,000 STARMAKER
Secondary positioning as sponsor in our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special that will air in millions of PBS-TV households
16 reserved tickets our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
One full page ad in the program book for our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
Live mention from stage at our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
Website banner advertising and linkage for one month before and after the event
Secondary logo placement on all printed event materials
$25,000 DREAMMAKER
10 reserved tickets to our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
Sponsorship mention and logo display in credits of our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
One full page ad in the program book for our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
Live mention from stage at our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
Website banner advertising and linkage for one month before and after the event
Logo placement on all printed event materials
$10,000 WISHMAKER
4 reserved tickets to our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
One half-page ad in program book for our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
Listing in the program book for our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
Listing in the credits of 60:00 our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
$5,000 GIFTMAKER
2 reserved tickets to our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
Listing in the program book for our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
Listing in the credits of our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
$2,500 SPONSORAHISTORYMAKER
2 reserved tickets to our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
Listing in the program book for our annual An Evening With...PBS-TV special
$1,000 PURCHASETICKET
PURCHASE A TICKET FOR AN EVENING WITH BERRY GORDY HERE!

BroadwayBerry-Chicago PBS Tribute 5-Letter Reply- LMFAO

Former Motown executive Suzanne de Passe said Gordy"was way ahead of his time in putting women in positions ofauthority." [[Geoff Brown, Chicago Tribune, 2012)

Suzy - Let’s play truth or consequences … Is BB’s penchantfor opportunistic women, sex and “promotion” the reason you gave ---- and gotahead?

In 2001, Berry Gordy established a relief fund for formerMotown artists, musicians & writers who are down on their luck. TheGwendolyn B. Gordy Fund assisted artists from the 60’s and 70’s with Gordydonating $750,000 in the name of his late sister. [[WendellHutson, ChicagoCity Hall Examiner, 2012)
…Obviously investigative reportage is not Wendell’s forte’. Accountability for this alleged trust fundas funded by BB seems to have been diverted to another realm. The names of the certified accountants and/ortrustees overseeing this fund plus the names, dates and distribution amounts toall those down and out Motown family members receiving such generosity fromthis 2001 trust fund to the present day would be welcome … and the interest onthis fund should have grown by now … it could possibly help some Motown familyduring this holiday season. Contact infofor this wonderful heart warming trust fund? Happy Holidays!

[jobeterob]

But Mirage.............even if this fund helped a Funk Brother, a group member, a former Motown employee, do you think the beneficiary of the help wants their name published on a public list for all to see? As in: Joe Blow has no money; anything he had he blew; he's a lost soul.

Do you think these people want to pass away and then have a public appeal made for money for their funeral? And we've seen that done a few times?

My question to that every time is: is the person raising the money trying to help the family or raise their own status? I find that whole business very degrading to both parties. If you want to contribute, do so quietly and anonymously.

I would also think if the Trust Fund were going to publish the names of the beneficiaries, privacy issues would prevent it without written consent.

[mirage]

But Mirage.............even if this fund helped a Funk Brother, a group member, a former Motown employee, do you think the beneficiary of the help wants their name published on a public list for all to see? As in: Joe Blow has no money; anything he had he blew; he's a lost soul.

Do you think these people want to pass away and then have a public appeal made for money for their funeral? And we've seen that done a few times?

My question to that every time is: is the person raising the money trying to help the family or raise their own status? I find that whole business very degrading to both parties. If you want to contribute, do so quietly and anonymously.

I would also think if the Trust Fund were going to publish the names of the beneficiaries, privacy issues would prevent it without written consent.
Bobby… Let’sforget the names of the indigent “Motown Family” members that are, or thatmight have benefited from this alleged BB heart-wrenching trust fund of$750,000 plus its accumulated interest since 2001. Who are the trustees of this BB tax right-offfund? Where are the funds located … asin please provide the appropriate CONTACT information sothat M-towners might actually have the opportunity to have access to thesealleged funds. BB should give this longoverdue 2001 information to one of the Detroitdailies. Or maybe a quad-personalityposter [[unscrupulous entertainment reporter) on this site might pick itup. Don’t think there was ever arelease about it; or a release about Audley Smith leaving; the canceled Detroit fundraiser; nor thefunds raised from the various events in NYC, etc.?
Obviously thisGordy funded trust, like the Motown Historical Museumfunds and the Motown Center millions seem tobecome MIA when actual accountability for any of these funds isquestioned. What is so difficult aboutverifying Motown charitable donations in any form and in any fund? US nonprofits require transparency.
And Detroit deserved betterthan throwing away its investment millions for “zero” return on an alleged BBbacked Motown themed Center. BB neveractually invested a “penny” of his own money into this failed project. “How dost thou vigorously protest” whenlinked and inked to charitable dollars that never materialize into credible Motownprojects or when promises from a $750,000 trust fund never reaches those whoneed it.
Again, what hasBB and his LA/NYC entourage given back to Detroit,Detroiters and M-towners? The answerremains as elusive as the three-quarters of a million dollar trust allegedlyset up to help bury or house penniless Motown family members. And it is always such a warm and fuzzycompliment whenever BB and his appendages suggest that some of the early M-townersare nothing more than jealous conniving lazy losers that want to punish BB forhis fame, fortune and success.
Hey BB can youspare a penny from this “pay it forward” charitable trust? Or have your appointed “trustee” watchdogsabsconded with the funds and left town; purchased a shiny Mercedes; or perhaps openedan LA boutique?
Vigilant anddiligent are two words that give veracity to a charity. Selection of those who become the guardiansto any charitable foundation says a lot about the character of the individualwho formed it and the individuals put in charge of it. Transparency is missing from Motown’s charitableaccounting practices.
Yes. BB deserves accolades and applause for theMotown record label he founded. But … BBis not to be mistaken for a caring philanthropist who has ever had the decencyto share the stage with those M-towners that held his hand when he needed it;and those hands were not one color. BBgambled with lives and family when he knowingly made some backroom deals andleft Detroit. BB played and paid.
There are stagesin one’s life that require reflection; the truth; and the ability to reach outand make amends to people and places hurt by us or because of us. Let’s start with following the Motown missingmillions and having those funds returned; replaced or replenished. Merry Christmas … Detroit!

[jobeterob]

Mirage: Does BG know you and know of your feelings? How many of your colleagues feel the same way?